24 butterflies were recorded flying in New Mexico in December in our iNaturalist sample; 0 of the top 50 are at their peak this month. The list is ranked by number of research-grade observations.
Top butterflies in December
Dainty Sulphur
Sleepy Orange
Reakirt's Blue
Painted Lady
Western Pygmy-Blue
American Snout
Mexican Yellow
Queen
Checkered White
West Coast Lady
Orange Sulphur
Phaon Crescent
All butterflies flying in New Mexico in December
| # | Species | Scientific name | Family | Obs. | Peak in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dainty Sulphur | Nathalis iole | Whites, Yellows, and Sulphurs | 33 | Oct (past peak) |
| 2 | Sleepy Orange | Eurema nicippe | Whites, Yellows, and Sulphurs | 33 | Jul (past peak) |
| 3 | Reakirt's Blue | Echinargus isola | Gossamer-winged Butterflies | 27 | Jul (past peak) |
| 4 | Painted Lady | Vanessa cardui | Brush-footed Butterflies | 19 | Jul (past peak) |
| 5 | Western Pygmy-Blue | Brephidium exilis | Gossamer-winged Butterflies | 13 | Sep (past peak) |
| 6 | American Snout | Libytheana carinenta | Brush-footed Butterflies | 11 | Oct (past peak) |
| 7 | Mexican Yellow | Eurema mexicana | Whites, Yellows, and Sulphurs | 11 | Oct (past peak) |
| 8 | Queen | Danaus gilippus | Brush-footed Butterflies | 7 | Aug (past peak) |
| 9 | Checkered White | Pontia protodice | Whites, Yellows, and Sulphurs | 7 | Jul (past peak) |
| 10 | West Coast Lady | Vanessa annabella | Brush-footed Butterflies | 6 | Jul (past peak) |
| 11 | Orange Sulphur | Colias eurytheme | Whites, Yellows, and Sulphurs | 6 | Jul (past peak) |
| 12 | Phaon Crescent | Phyciodes phaon | Brush-footed Butterflies | 6 | Sep (past peak) |
| 13 | American Lady | Vanessa virginiensis | Brush-footed Butterflies | 4 | Jul (past peak) |
| 14 | Southern Dogface | Zerene cesonia | Whites, Yellows, and Sulphurs | 4 | Oct (past peak) |
| 15 | Monarch | Danaus plexippus | Brush-footed Butterflies | 3 | Aug (past peak) |
| 16 | Small White | Pieris rapae | Whites, Yellows, and Sulphurs | 3 | May (past peak) |
| 17 | Variegated Fritillary | Euptoieta claudia | Brush-footed Butterflies | 3 | Jul (past peak) |
| 18 | Red Admiral | Vanessa atalanta | Brush-footed Butterflies | 2 | Jul (past peak) |
| 19 | Great Purple Hairstreak | Atlides halesus | Gossamer-winged Butterflies | 2 | Apr (past peak) |
| 20 | Gray Hairstreak | Strymon melinus | Gossamer-winged Butterflies | 1 | Jul (past peak) |
| 21 | Mourning Cloak | Nymphalis antiopa | Brush-footed Butterflies | 1 | Jun (past peak) |
| 22 | Clouded Sulphur | Colias philodice | Whites, Yellows, and Sulphurs | 1 | Sep (past peak) |
| 23 | Hackberry Emperor | Asterocampa celtis | Brush-footed Butterflies | 1 | Jul (past peak) |
| 24 | Gray Buckeye | Junonia grisea | Brush-footed Butterflies | 1 | Oct (past peak) |